Betty Schneider

Betty Schneider, 90, passed away Sunday, August 30, 2026. A celebration of life will be held Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Little Crow Golf Resort from 4pm to 6pm.  Memorials may be directed to the Willmar League of Woman Voters. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar.

On January 12, 1936, Alice (Sword) and James Weldon, already parents to little Jimmy, welcomed Betty, the youngest twin led by her sister, Sandra, by just minutes.  The three happy children grew up fiercely competitive sports enthusiasts in a community south of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Proving her grit, Betty excelled at field hockey.

Betty took her tenacity to Connecticut College earning a degree in economics.  Graduating in 1958, she made her way to Wall Street in New York City working at what she described as “the banker’s bank.” There she met Ronald H. Schneider, a Naval Aviator from Minnesota, on a blind date. They enjoyed theater, the parks, and art museums, but Ron longed to return to Minnesota.

Betty and Ron married in New York City, after Ron’s final oversees deployment in 1959. The day after their wedding, they moved to Minneapolis.  Betty worked for the Toro Company while Ron completed his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Minnesota.

Betty and Ron moved to Willmar in 1963, where they started their family and Ron began his legal career. Ever active, Betty took on leadership roles in the Willmar community including the Rice Hospital Board, the League of Women Voters, and the American Association of University Women. She also volunteered for the Kandiyohi County Historical Society, served on the board of Ridgewater College, and became the first woman in Kandiyohi County on the First Bank Board of Directors. For many years, Betty also worked as a bookkeeper for Ron’s legal practice. Betty was known by the community as a gracious leader who had a quiet, but focused, and determined presence.

Ron and Betty built their dream home on Green Lake in Spicer, Minnesota, in 1996. Betty loved her family, living by the lake, and became a gourmet cook and savvy investor upon retirement.  She loved board games, especially “Rumi-Kube;” indeed, she won the last game she played before passing.  Betty enjoyed reading and discussing politics and current events. Betty frequently reminded those close to her to “maximize their potential” and to “keep smiling.”

Betty and Ron were blessed with two children and four grandchildren. Betty is survived by her son, David (Trish Perry); daughter, Lynne Wilmot (John Haberman); grandchildren: Eric, Suzanne, Sam, and Megan; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings.

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